Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Earl J. Larrison papers, 1926-1987
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Earl Junior Larrison, 1919-1987
- Title
- Earl J. Larrison papers
- Dates
- 1926-1987 (inclusive)19261987
- Quantity
- 1 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- MG 399
- Summary
- Contains correspondence, drafts of articles, notes from field studies, photographs, and related materials. Also includes items ranging outside of Larrison's lifetime, including photographs from family members and articles published about Larrison and related subjects after his death.
- Repository
-
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Earl Junior Larrison was born in Mabton, Washington on Mother's Day, May 11, 1919. He was the son of banker Earl and Anna Marie (Kuble) Larrison. During his public-school years in Seattle, he was active in the Boy Scouts. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and as a result he developed a keen interest in natural science and the outdoors. Following his graduation from Lincoln High School in 1936, he attended the University of Washington, earning a bachelor's degree, cum laude, in 1941. During the early years of World War II, he was employed at Boeing as a chemist, and then returned to the University of Washington where he earned a master's degree in zoology in 1946. His thesis was on the chipmunks of the central Cascade Mountains of Washington. In 1946, he accepted a fellowship in the Laboratory of Vertebrate Biology at the University of Michigan to work under Dr. Lee R. Dice. He continued to work toward a doctorate in zoology at the university until February 1949 when he accepted a position at the University of Idaho. An animal researcher and author, Larrison taught biology, zoology, mammalogy, and ornithology at University of Idaho for over 30 years. During his tenure at the school, he established the skeletal and pelt museum and the Audubon Room for bird studies at his own expense. He developed the Animal Research Library, with over 12,000 volumes, including many original prints. He was also instrumental in establishing the Idaho Academy of Science. He was the first person to catalog the animals and plants of the Owyhee Mountains near Boise, a project he undertook from 1949 to 1950. In addition to his writing and research, he was a professional photographer, with a vast collection of movies, prints, and slides of his natural science research. He was a visiting science teacher in public schools in Idaho and Washington and a recurring speaker at student and civic groups in the Palouse region. He was an accomplished organist and was proficient in German, French, and Latin. He wrote poetry and short stories and became an authority on Sir Walter Scott. His interest in Scott developed when a friend loaned him a life of Scott to read during a summer spent at the forest lookout on Mount Pilchuck, near Everett, Washington. By 1962, when he donated his collection to the University of Idaho Library, he had accumulated more than 500 volumes by and about the author. He was editor of the University Press of Idaho from 1982 to 1984. Following his retirement in 1984 he moved to his cabin near Newport, Washington, where he died of a heart attack on October 21, 1987.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Earl J. Larrison papers span the years 1880-1989. They contain records dated during Larrison's life (1919-1987), including correspondence with various colleagues, societies, and organizations; drafts of articles, reports, and a book on Mt. Pilchuck; published articles by Larrison and other authors; notes, itineraries, and biological surveys from various field studies; photographs of field sites, wildlife, Larrison, and family; university records; membership newsletters and leaflets from the National Audubon Society; and other related materials. Ranging outside of Larrison's lifetime, the collection also includes photographs from family members dating back to 1880, as well as articles published about Larrison and related subjects after his death.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
FOR PHOTOS Photographer, "Title," date. Collection name, object ID. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
FOR DOCUMENTS Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: RecordsReturn to Top
Series 1: RecordsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Alaska Trip
22 items : Contains postcards and correspondence between Earl Larrison and Mabel and Hap Annem discussing a trip to Alaska.
|
13 November 1962-1965 |
| 1 | 2 | Animals in Winter (Valley Magazine)
19 items : Contains correspondence with The Valley Magazine, a writer's contract, and two drafts of an article written by Larrison on winter animals in Idaho.
|
27 August 1987-28 September 1987 |
| 1 | 4 | Articles on Wildlife
7 items : Contains wildlife articles, focused primarily on birds and wildlife illustrators.
|
October 1952-April 1967 |
| 1 | 5 | Audubon, John James
28 items : Contains list of persons attending the 1971 organizational meeting of the Palouse Audubon Society, a copy of an entry from Audubon's journal, timeline of Audubon's life, articles from Audubon Magazine, history and notes on the Audubon Society, and short essays on Audubon by various authors.
|
September 1958-March 1985 |
| 1 | 6 | Biological Survey of Owyhee County
22 items : Contains notes, schedules, request for funds, and progress reports for a biological survey of Owyhee County, Idaho. Also contains a bibliography of mining and geography in Owyhee County, Idaho through 1941.
|
22 September 1950-1952 |
| 1 | 7 | Bird Sightings
3 items : Contains list of bird sightings and two copies of a sight record of the gray flycatcher in Washington.
|
27 July 1970 |
| 1 | 8 | Birds, Drawings of
2 items : Contains color drawings of two different birds.
|
undated |
| 1 | 9 | Bobcat-Lynx Variation Study
7 items : Contains correspondence about bobcat and lynx specimens for a variation study.
|
23 March 1950-28 February 1951 |
| 1 | 10 | Certificate of Thanks from College of Letters and Science
1 item : Contains certificate of thanks presented to Earl J. Larrison from the college of letters and science.
|
1984 |
| 1 | 11 | Chipmunks, Feeding Tray Studies (for Northern Science)
16 items : Contains two copies of an article on an abnormally colored Townsend chipmunk and a report on chipmunk feeding tray studies.
|
January 1950-4 October 1968 |
| 1 | 12 | Corps of Army Engineers, Land Mammals of Washington
3 items : Contains correspondence with the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers and a report summarizing the status of land mammals in Washington State.
|
9 March 1973-24 August 1973 |
| 1 | 13 | Correspondence
38 items : Contains newspaper clippings and correspondence between Earl J. Larrison and various contacts.
|
11 June 1946-17 September 1987 |
| 1 | 14 | Daily Log
5 items : Contains field season daily logs and notes.
|
17 June 1949-8 September 1953 |
| 1 | 15 | Daily Log
1 item : Contains daily log and notes for General Research Project G-19.
|
24 June 1954-21 August 1954 |
| 1 | 16 | Dice, Lee R., Correspondence
12 items : Contains correspondence between Earl J. Larrison and Lee R. Dice.
|
18 April 1949-28 April 1950 |
| 1 | 17 | Dissertation Draft
123 items : Contains dissertation draft.
|
1949 |
| 1 | 18 | Gopher Mound Study
28 items : Contains gopher mound negatives and photographs, an article from The Murrelet on pocket gophers and ecological succession in the Wenas region of Washington, and correspondence between Earl J. Larrison and geologist W. Armstrong Price.
|
August 1942-7 February 1948 |
| 1 | 19 | Hemlock Inn - A Sequel to Pilchuck
33 items : Contains correspondence, photograph of Don Fritz, and pages from the draft of the book, Hemlock Inn - A Sequel to Pilchuck.
|
5 May 1950-13 January 1961 |
| 1 | 20 | Higman, Harry W. Correspondence
177 items : Contains correspondence between Harry W. Higman and Earl J. Larrison, newspaper articles, a memorandum of agreement, a bibliography of mining and geology in Owyhee County, Idaho, a map of Western Washington lakes, and draft chapters of a book.
|
17 October 1949-2 February 1958 |
| 1 | 21 | Idaho Academy of Science Journal Correspondence
166 items : Contains correspondence about publications of the Idaho Academy of Science Journal, a report on cytology of agryopyron trachycaulum, an article from Science, and vol. 66 of The College of Idaho Bulletin.
|
6 May 1959-9 April 1962 |
| 1 | 22 | Idaho Academy of Science Journal Format Notes
26 items : Contains correspondence about contributions to and the formatting of the Idaho Academy of Science Journal. Also contains an illustration of rallus mirificus (brown-banded rail).
|
26 January 1960-14 June 1983 |
| 1 | 23 | Juniper Field Trip
11 items : Contains photographs and negatives of the Juniper Forest area and a United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey topographic map of Levey NE Quadrangle in Franklin County, Washington.
|
undated |
| 1 | 24 | Juniper Forest Campout
74 items : Contains photographs and papers pertaining to the Juniper Forest area in Franklin County, Washington, including: correspondence, maps, a newspaper clipping, lists of plants collected and fauna observed, and a preliminary report of the area.
|
20 September 1970-25 September 1975 |
| 1 | 25 | Juniper Forest Studies
8 items : Contains topographical maps, list of rodent fauna composition in Juniper Forest, and correspondence about studies in Juniper Forest.
|
9 November 1970-9 November 1974 |
| 1 | 26 | Kingbird Lake Campouts
18 items : Contains lists of bird species recorded at Panhandle Lake Campout and Kingbird Lake Campout, correspondence, field work schedules, notes on Kingbird Lake Campout, weather forecasts, and Seattle Audubon Society notes.
|
22 June 1969-June 1971 |
| 1 | 27 | Larrison, Earl, Articles About
4 items : Contains newspaper and newsletter articles about Earl J. Larrison.
|
22 May 1949-2 February 1989 |
| 1 | 28 | Library Faculty Award Speech
1 item : Contains Library Faculty Award acceptance speech.
|
undated |
| 1 | 29 | Mexico Trip
12 items : Contains correspondence pertaining to a trip to Mexico.
|
5 March 1952-28 June 1952 |
| 1 | 30 | Miscellaneous
3 items : Contains a manual of scripture texts for Christian workers, the program for Earl J. Larrison's (Sr.) memorial service, and an article from Outdoors West.
|
1886-1987 |
| 1 | 31 | National Association of Audubon Societies
48 items : Contains correspondence from the National Audubon Society, meeting minutes, Christmas bird censuses, newsletters from the Seattle Audubon Society, and informational leaflets published by the National Audubon Society.
|
1926-15 May 1941 |
| 1 | 32 | National Audubon African Safari Workshop
21 items : Contains materials for the National Audubon Society African Safari Workshop, including itineraries, correspondence, workshop programs, travel requirements list, recommended reading list, and a map of Serengeti National Park.
|
4 October 1974-22 February 1975 |
| 1 | 33 | Northwest Wildflowers
9 items : Contains slides of northwest wildflowers, correspondence, and notes on appendix for a publication titled "Northwest Wildflowers".
|
24 January 1977-27 February 1977 |
| 1 | 34 | The Outer Sphere: The Perspective of Nature of Earl J. Larrison
1 item : Contains outline for the autobiography of Earl J. Larrison.
|
undated |
| 1 | 35 | Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society
102 items : Contains correspondence, meeting attendance lists, newspaper clippings, and meeting agenda for the Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society.
|
9 May 1940-11 March 1946 |
| 1 | 36 | Panhandle Summer Study
10 items : Contains report on historical relations of mammal fauna on opposites sides of the western boundary of Idaho, a report on the Snake River diversion in the late Pleistocene age, miscellaneous notes, and a photocopy of a topographical map.
|
undated |
| 1 | 37 | Photographs: Academic Year Institute, Priest Lake, Idaho
9 items : Contains photographs of students at the 1970 Academic Year Institute in Priest Lake, Idaho.
|
July 1970 |
| 1 | 38 | Photographs: Earl Larrison
11 items : Contains portrait photograph of Earl J. Larrison, assorted photographs of Larrison teaching and working in office and lab settings, and one photo of Larrison in a field setting in Owyhee County, Idaho; final photo is accompanied by a letter.
|
1949-4 February 1988 |
| 1 | 39 | Photographs: Family (1)
59 items : Contains photographs of Earl J. Larrison as a child, family portraits, photos from a family trip to Yellowstone, photos of a family picnic, and other assorted family photos.
|
1915-1941 |
| 1 | 40 | Photographs: Family (2)
11 items : Contains portrait photograph of a woman named Mabel Martin and photographs of Earl J. Larrison with his parents and other family members.
|
July 1963-17 September 1972 |
| 1 | 41 | Photographs: Kuble Family
11 items : Contains photographs of members of the Kuble Family.
|
1880-1910 |
| 1 | 42 | Photographs: Miscellaneous
35 items : Contains miscellaneous negatives and photographs, including photographs of landscapes, field sites, and animals (avocet, marmot, squirrels).
|
undated |
| 1 | 43 | Photographs: Silver City, Idaho
1 item : Contains photograph of Silver City, Idaho.
|
24 September 1957 |
| 1 | 44 | Photographs: Tanzania
7 items : Contains photographs of Tanzanian wildlife, including a monkey, oryx antelope, lions, and an elephant.
|
October 1979 |
| 1 | 45 | Photographs: Wilderness Areas
9 items : Contains negatives and photographs of forested mountain wilderness areas.
|
1947 |
| 1 | 46 | Photographs: Yellowstone National Park
5 items : Contains photographs of wildlife at Yellowstone National Park, including bison, elk, and bighorn sheep.
|
March 1980 |
| 1 | 47 | Pilchuck Book Work
122 items : Contains work for a book on Mt. Pilchuck, including an author's contract, correspondence, notes, and collected newspaper clippings and maps for research.
|
11 January 1948-23 March 1950 |
| 1 | 48 | Pilchuck Book Correspondence
22 items : Contains publishing correspondence for a book on Mt. Pilchuck and a copy of chapter 12 from the book.
|
7 November 1973-20 |
| 1 | 49 | Pilchuck Mammals Field Key
1 item : Contains field key for identifying animals in the Mt. Pilchuck area.
|
undated |
| 1 | 50 | Portland Trip
6 items : Contains correspondence concerning preparations for a trip to Portland.
|
26 July 1983-16 September 1983 |
| 1 | 51 | Selective Service Correspondence
18 items : Contains correspondence with the Selective Service, requesting a deferment from service.
|
19 September 1941-20 April 1943 |
| 1 | 52 | Summer Schedule (G-19)
11 items : Contains itineraries for summer field work project G-19, lists of locations with corresponding wildlife, and correspondence between Earl J. Larrison and Bob Jonas.
|
9 June 1954 |
| 1 | 53 | Summer Trip Itinerary (G-3)
4 items : Contains itinerary for summer field work project G-3.
|
1950 |
| 1 | 54 | University of Michigan Business
9 items : Contains correspondence with the University of Michigan concerning admission, fellowships, and residence accommodations.
|
2 August 1945-1 April 1947 |
| 1 | 55 | University of Michigan Degree Matters
8 items : Contains correspondence and records concerning degree matters for Earl J. Larrison at University of Michigan.
|
14 February 1947-20 March 1952 |
| 1 | 56 | University of Washington Old Records
5 items : Contains records from University of Washington, including copies of transcripts and commencement programs.
|
1937-22 June 1946 |
| 1 | 57 | Wilderness Ecology Workshop
10 items : Contains pamphlets for a wilderness ecology workshop at University of Idaho, notes and correspondence about the workshop, and an article about the Idaho Academy of Science.
|
29 April 1969-20 July 1979 |
| 1 | 58 | Winter Behavior Studies
3 items : Contains correspondence with students and a report on the effects of oncoming storms on animal behavior.
|
30 December 1965-23 September 1987 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Correspondence
- Photographs
Geographical Names
- Idaho
Finding aid was prepared by Trixie Zwolfer​.
2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
